Embele Awipi: Johnson adjusting to life in the NBA

Describing his NBA draft day as "real hectic," Orlando Johnson tried to be calm as he awaited his name to be called.

Now he's two weeks away from the real hard work.

Johnson, a former Palma High standout, is in his first NBA training camp as a member of the Indiana Pacers. After finishing with UC-Santa Barbara's career scoring record, Johnson was drafted 36th overall last June by the Sacramento Kings before being traded to Indiana for cash.

Johnson said he wasn't surprised about going to Indiana; the last team he had a workout with.

"I knew (Indiana) liked me a lot," Johnson said. "They made me feel pretty good because they really wanted me and I could be a factor on this team. It felt good to know that I was going somewhere I was wanted."

Johnson is showing no fear ahead of his debut - Indiana's Halloween night opener at Toronto. So far in the preseason he has averaged 3.3 points and 11.5 minutes a game, with one start.

"As for the games, I feel like it's getting better by the day," he said. "Not trying to put too much pressure on myself - just go out and play and get better. The coaching staff has been doing a good job of slowing me down and teaching me the way."

Johnson is also leaning on the experience of Pacer veterans like Paul George and Danny Granger to make the rookie year transition easier.

"It's good to have an open mind and listen to them so I can hopefully get to their level someday," he said. "It's going to be a learning process this year, to learn how they play and implement it into how I play as well."

"There's a lot of free time, but the more work you put in, the better you're prepared to be on the court,'' he said. "The coaches are business-like, but treat you like grown men. It's a job. You have to prepare yourself and come ready, or you are out of here."

Embele Awipi is a former radio host whose "On The Air" column runs every Monday in the Californian. Contact him at embeleshow@yahoo.com.

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Embele Awipi: Johnson adjusting to life in the NBA

Describing his NBA draft day as 'real hectic,' Orlando Johnson tried to be calm as he awaited his name to be called. Now he's two weeks away from the real hard work.